Device for protecting crude-oil tanks.



L. HANNON.

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING CRUDE OIL TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I6, 1916.

' Patented June 12, 1.91.7.

Inventor7 Attorneys cc.. rnarquma., wnuw an A LUKE HANNON, OF HENNESSEY, OKLAHOMA.

Application filed May 16, 1916.

To all lwhom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, LUKE HANNON, a citie zen of the United States, residing at Hennessey, in the county of Kingfisher and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Device for Protecting Crude-Oil lanks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is a device for protecting a crude oil-tank, land aims to provide a novel and improved appliance to prevent the crude oil tank being destroyed by lire when it is struck by lightning or otherwise set on lire.

It is the object of the invention toprovide means for automatically opening a closure of the tank in the event that the oil or other contents of the tank is set on fire, to enable the contents of the tank to be discharged quickly to save the tank from injury.

1t is also the object of the invention to provide a device of the nature indicated which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, which can be readily installed upon various oil and other tanks, and which is simple yet effective in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a tank embodying the present improvements.

2 is a vertical section thereof, portions being broken away and others being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view of the device.

In the drawing, there is depicted a tank 1, such as is used for holding crude oil, but it is to be understood that the present improvements can be employed in various other tanks. The tank 1 is provided at one side and adjacent its bottom with an outlet open-v ing 2 provided with a double closure embodying an outer door 3 hinged, as at 4:, to the tank 1 at one side of the opening 2, and an inner door 5 mounted for vertical sliding specification f Letters Patent.

Patented June'12, 1917.

Serial No. 97,851.

movement in suitable guides (5. W hen the door 5 is slid downwardly and the door 3 above the opening 2, is a pair of angular brackets 7 which `are preferably secured upon an angle iron or other suitable support 8 attached to the tank adjacent its upper edge, and a lianged roller or spool 9 is mounted for rotation between and is supported by the brackets 7. Attached to the upper edge of the tank 1 diametrically opposite the spool 9 is a bracket 10 to which a rope or other combustible or fusible element 11 -is attached, and said rope 11 extends across the upper portion of the tank 1 toward and adjacent the spool 9. A chain or equivalent non-combustible element 12 is attached vto the free end of the rope 11 and passes over the spool 9. Said chain 12 eX- tends through and is attached to a weight 13, which weight is upon the exterior' of the tank 1, being suspended from the spool 9 by the chain 12.l From the weight 13, the chain 12 passes back over the spool 9 and downwardly within the tank 1, and is attached to the upper end of the door 5. The rope 11 holds the chain 12 with the weight 13 in suspended position, to prevent the weight 13 from falling, which if it occurs will raise the door to open position.

A latch 14 is pivoted, as at 15, to the outer surface of the door 3 and is swingable under a depending keeper 16 carried by the tank 1 adjacent the free edge of the door 3, whereby to hold the door 3 in closed position. A chain or other non-combustible flexible element 17 is attached to the free end `of the latch 111 and is passed over the spool 9, being attached to the rope or cord 11. A suitable weight 18 is suspended from the latch 14:, or can be attached to the lower end of the chain 17, and tends to swing the latchfll downwardly to releasing position. The rope 11 holds the chain 17 as well as the chain 12, whereby to hold the latch 14 in raised position behind the keeper 16.

yAs a means for holding the door 5 in raised position, when it is open, a suitable spring catch 19 can be provided, to engage a notch 20 or other portion of the door 5 and hold it up.

Should the oil or other contents of the tank 1 be ignited, the rope 11 will be immediately burned in two, thus releasing the chains 12 and 17, which will permit the weights 13 and 18 to fall. The weight 13 in gravitating will pull the inner door upwardly, which will be held raised by the spring catch 19, and the weight 18 in gravitating will swing the latch 14 downwardly away from the keeper 16, thus permitting the contents of the tank to swing the door 3 open. The tank will thus be immediately emptied through the opening 2 to prevent vthe tank beinginjured by the conlagration.

said opening, means tending to open said door, an outer door closing said opening and opening outward, means for holding the outer door in closed position, means tending to move the second mentioned means to releasing position, and combustible means for preventing the rstrand third mentioned means from operating.

2. The combination with a tank .having an Voutlet opening in one wall adjacent its bottom, of an inner sliding door closing said opening, an outer door hinged to the tank to close said opening` and adapted to open outwardly, guiding means carried by the tank adjacent its upper edge above said opening, a flexible element attached to the inner door and passing over said guiding means, a weight connected to said flexible element to raise the inner door, a latch for holding the outer door in closed position, means tending to release said latch, a flexible element attached to the latch and extending over the guiding means, and a combustible element attached to the aforesaid flexible elements, extending across and attached to the tank to normally prevent the Y doors from being opened. Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. Y

LUKE HANNON. Witnesses: CLINT B. GILBERT, S.. R. KENNETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

